New Customs Controller of FOU, Yahaya sends panic to smugglers *Seizes over N67million contraband in one week

The  new  Customs Area Controller, CAC, Federal Operations Unit, FOU zone‘A’ of Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, DC Usman Yahaya, hits the ground running; makes spectacular seizures of contraband worth over N67million in one week

DC Yahaya, who is on Acting capacity continues to live up to his statutory responsibilities especially in the area of anti-smuggling operations.

In a press release made available to Financial Business News, the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the Unit, Mr Jerry Attah, said,  “Barely one week in office, his quest for outstanding performance using credible intelligence has started to yield positive results with  interception of 2,065 jerrycans of vegetable oil 25liters each, 1,185 bags of 50kg foreign parboiled rice, 1500 jerrycans (25lts) of diesel, with a duty paid value of Sixty Seven Million, Three Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand, Five Hundred Naira only (67,362,500.00), from January 7th -14th January 2020”.

He went on,  “The seizures were made along different unapproved routes within our areas of coverage.

“This feat is coming as a result of series of meetings held with our sectional heads, team/patrol leaders, where he unveiled the management’s mandate bestowed on him, which includes blockage of all revenue leakages, trade facilitation and intensification of anti-smuggling operations at various entry points: Seaports, land borders, and Airport within our areas of jurisdiction in the south west zone”.

DC Yahaya warned smugglers of the danger that lies ahead, if they do not engage in legitimate trade, as some have started counting their losses

“You will agree with me that the fight against smuggling can only be won if all hands are on deck”, he said.

He called on all members of the media and the public to support the fight against smuggling by providing necessary intelligence that could assist the Service in reducing smuggling to its barest minimum.

Meanwhile, DC Yahaya’s redeployment was part of the strategies  by CGC Ali Hameed  to re-jig and reposition the Service for greater efficiency and effectiveness, especially in the areas of revenue generation, trade facilitation as well as combating smuggling.

DC Usman Yahaya is an enforcement guru, who hitherto was the Coordinator of Strike Force, Zone ‘A’, before he was posted to FOU zone ‘A’ as the Acting Controller.

.He took over on Tuesday 7th January 2020, from Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed, who was elevated based on his records to a new assignment, as the Acting sector -4 Commander of Border Drill Operations, known as Ex-Swift Response.

Assumption of office by Yahaya at FOU has naturally sent a panic to smugglers and non-compliant traders, knowing his antecedents as an enforcement Czar.

DC Yahaya thanked CGC Ali Hameed for considering him worthy and assured that, he will work assiduously to justify the confidence reposed on him.